What drives people to do such a thing? Do computer games encourage shooting? Does gun culture begin with water pistols and toy guns?

In the UK our gun laws are very different to those in the US – however, if someone wanted to get hold of a gun to commit a crime, then it is probable that they could.

Do we need to be more responsible when it comes to teaching children about guns?

Two writers (and mums to boys) give us their opinion on whether children should play with guns.

Laura Bonnell is a mum of two boys and has recently relocated from London to California. She is the founder of kidswear brand ‘Muklet’, and also works as a freelance fashion design director.

Is this an appropriate way to play? Picture posed by models (Picture: Getty)

I find it fascinating watching our two young boys grow up. I particularly love to observe how they play ‘make believe’.

I’m curious to understand how much of an influence those early years of playing has on the characters they build, particularly how it teaches them to interact with others.

Ours is a classic noisy household filled with Lego, Pokémon cards and wrestling. But there’s one thing we don’t have, and that’s toy guns.

I wouldn’t consider myself a ‘strict’ parent. I tend to give the boys space to play and figure out a lot of things by themselves.

But I am clear on a couple of things, and one of those is that I don’t condone hurting another person. I also tend to ask them to choose another word when they say things like ‘shoot’, ‘kill’ or ‘dead’.

When it comes to toy guns I am just about OK with water pistols, as long as they look more ‘toy’ than ‘gun’, but I tend to draw the line when it comes to things like Nerf guns.

Are water pistols OK? Picture posed by model (Picture: Getty)

Even though they are still considered toys, I know at close range those things can actually hurt!

I find it a little unnerving to observe a child line up a person in their crosshairs in order to fire a (foam) bullet at them.

It also unsettles me thinking that these kind of games could stir up feelings of violence or vindictiveness.

I have in fact had numerous requests from my boys to buy them a Nerf gun or something similar. So far I’ve said no.

They now know that Mummy doesn’t like those sort of toys, and for now they have stopped asking.

I don’t want them to grow up feeling like a gun is a toy, and it’s fun to shoot people.

To be honest I think my biggest fear is that having recently moved from London to the USA it’s not inconceivable that they could one day progress from a toy gun to owning the real thing.